Fans of Saturday Night Live are criticizing the show after it announced over the weekend that Dave Chappelle would be the guest host for its November 12 episode.
On Saturday, SNL’s official Twitter account tweeted out its now-standard image of colored notecards thumbtacked to a corkboard announcing the following week’s host and musical guest. Chappelle’s name appears alongside rap duo Black Star in the Nov. 5 tweet.
next week’s show! pic.twitter.com/yyWCsszXDw
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) November 6, 2022
Chappelle has become infamous for his anti-trans views in the past year. In his 2021 Netflix special, The Closer, the comedian defended J.K. Rowling for her frequent transphobic comments and described himself as a TERF—a “trans-exclusionary radical feminist.” The special received widespread criticism and led to Netflix employees staging a walkout in protest.
After SNL announced that Chappelle would be the show’s next guest host, fans quickly blasted the show on Twitter. The comments on the original tweet were flooded with images of Don Cheadle wearing a “Protect Trans Kids” t-shirt during his February 2019 appearance on the show.
Never Miss a Beat
Subscribe to our newsletter to stay ahead of the latest LGBTQ+ political news and insights.
Another user replied with a pic of cast member Cecily Strong wearing a “Trans Rights Are Human Rights” t-shirt during Scarlett Johansson’s March 2017 appearance. “I hope cast members will boycott this,” they commented.
— Jeremy Wein is in NYC (@thismyshow) November 6, 2022
I hope cast members will boycott this. pic.twitter.com/8ZCFKJYS8m
— Sebastian M. Barr, Ph.D. (@DrSebastianBarr) November 6, 2022
Many fans also pointed out that the show only recently announced its first-ever nonbinary cast member, Molly Kearney.
“Wonder how SNL’s first nonbinary castmember this season must feel about them platforming Dave Chappelle next week,” one user tweeted. “Disappointing but not surprising. Feeling for Molly Kearney right now.”
Wonder how SNL’s first nonbinary castmember this season must feel about them platforming Dave Chappelle next week. Disappointing but not surprising. Feeling for Molly Kearney right now
— JULIA! (@S0UNDOFMETAL) November 6, 2022
Having Dave Chappelle host SNL again is a slap in the face to trans people, including one of their own new cast members. What the hell Lorne?!
— Kara🏳️⚧️ (@Runningactor) November 6, 2022
I love SNL. I've been a fan all my life. But having Dave Chappelle on as host is not the move. You have your first non-binary cast member ever and then you book an proud and open transphobe. What a disappointment.
— Sean Altly (@SeanAltly) November 6, 2022
It's extremely fucked up that Dave Chappelle is hosting SNL next week (end of statement) but also cause they just added on a trans-nonbinary cast member.
— DubyaWife 🧅 (@DubyaWife) November 6, 2022
I'm a trans man and don't gaf about chappelle but as a workplace figure out where you stand. You cant make a huge point of hiring a non binary persona and then have them see a transphobic dude as the host like what
— eyebfdhvb (@JayeBar24014027) November 6, 2022
Others simply voiced their outrage and disappointment.
why am i surprised that they're having dave chappelle host when they had tr*mp host a month before his election and they let jost and che host update for the last nine years? clearly they don't care what their loyal audience wants at all #SNL
— Lauren 🥯 (@laurenleti) November 6, 2022
I don't love reminders that the general public and even creators I enjoy don't care about my community. Dave Chappelle on SNL is sadly not surprising but fucking hurts.
— Sebastian M. Barr, Ph.D. (@DrSebastianBarr) November 6, 2022
THIS shit is why SNL giving Dave Chappelle a platform is dangerous, and why none of us – especially our allies, whose voices aren’t as drowned out as ours – should shut up about it. A war is being waged on trans people (and trans KIDS) every single day, and he helps it grow. https://t.co/Gh5zu8XYTJ
— Zoë Rose Bryant (@ZoeRoseBryant) November 6, 2022
